OK, I decided to write a western fan fic. Anyways…Phoebe is the owner/manager of a saloon which Gunther is the bartender at and manages the drinks, Joey is a drifter and a one time ranch hand and fought in the Civil War where he met Chandler, Ross is a man from the east who is looking to get away from the memories of his wife that died as well as his son in a house fire, Rachel is the daughter of a doctor from New York and is an old friend of Monica's she comes to the western town to escape an arranged marriage and what society expects of her, Monica is Ross's sister who is along for the ride and is wanting some adventure, and Chandler is a gambler who dreams of getting out of his profession that he was thrust into to own his own cattle ranch someday. Joey is Chandler's friend. Phoebe is the owner of a saloon in Montana territory.
Now on with the fic…..I do not own the characters, BTW.
********
Saloon
Small western town
Colorado Territory, 1878
Chandler sat back in his chair and surveyed the other players at the card table. His best friend, Joey Tribbianni, was at the bar smooth talking a lovely lady. While Chandler stuttered around women and could not relate to them at all, Joey could. What he excelled at was cards, Joey's facial expressions could be read easily. The other players could also be read just as easily.
While waiting for a player to decide, he looked over at the mirror on the wall. His cards as well as the others could not be seen, but he could see his reflection very well. He needed to get a hair cut, his light brown hair fell a bit past his ears and in the back was touching his neck, his eyes were bright blue and above them on his temple he had a scar, courtesy of the Civil War.
Finally, it now was the time for everyone to show their cards…
Chandler laid his cards down on the table. "Full house gentlemen." He called out. Causing the other four men to groan and to swear while throwing their cards down to the table.
It was not a lot of money, it never really was, just enough to see him and his friend Joey through for a while, unless Joey did something real stupid where Chandler would have to pay a fine or to pay for his nightly entertainment with a girl. They were real good friends, but if Joey kept doing that, there was going to be no way that he would get his dream of owning a cattle ranch.
And it looked that the Colorado territory was about to become a state. Not to much longer, anyway. So there was no more land to really be had. Right after the Civil War, both ex-soldiers and newly freed slaves had picked up their lives and moved west. Some to get away from bad memories, some to get away from sharecropping and others because the west was the best place for a fresh new start.
Chandler recently found out that he inherited some land from an uncle that was the black sheep of the family up at the Montana Territory up north right at the Canadian border. The winters might be longer and harder, but there was more land to be had to start a ranch. And they just needed money to buy cattle, horses and other supplies.
"Well, I guess that is about it." A banker got up to leave.
"Yes, I am tapped out." An old forty-niner stated.
"I guess I will go and get something to eat, before you take ALL of my money." A young man smiled and left.
"Wait! I want a rematch." Came the one who was trying his best to get drunk.
He had lost the most money. He looked to be about the same age as Chandler, which was about 32, but he was taller, not as broad in the shoulders, had black hair and brown eyes. His clothes spoke of eastern finery and he had a tendency to speak like an aristocrat.
"Listen, the game has ended. So why don't you go and sleep off your drink?" Chandler asked, trying to be friendly.
"Because I want another game." He then stood up to full height. His hand right at the top of his gun. "Unless you are too chicken to play another game."
Chandler looked over his shoulder and saw Joey slowly drawing his gun, Joey would always try to be there for Chandler when he felt that he got into trouble. He hoped that Joey would not kill the man, he was evidently drunk and looking for a fight. If this man would draw, there was no way he would win.
Chandler fumbled with the cards he was reshuffling, trying to look like a bumbling idiot, and they went flying all over the place. "Uh, you could say that." Chandler shook his head yes.
"Are you always so yellow bellied?"
"It is how I stay alive, so YES!" Chandler smiled hoping that he would calm down. He did not want a repeat of what happened at Dodge City. At least everyone there agreed that he was only defending himself.
"What is wrong with you? I demean your honor and that is all you have to say?" The man slurred out.
"But what is it worth if you are dead?" Chandler asked. Still hoping that he will get fed up him and walk away and just in case, his hand went to his holster and unlocked it.
Just then a small vase was brought down on top of his head. Easily knocking the drunk man out cold and shattering the vase to pieces.
Chandler looked over at the person who swung the blow, only to see a petite young girl who looked to be about in her late teens to early twenties. "Thank you both for not killing my brother." She stated aloud to both Chandler and Joey who put away his revolver.
"Uh, no problem Miss uh…." Chandler tipped his hat. He looked carefully at the woman, she had dark brown hair and light blue eyes and clear, porcelain skin. In short she was very pretty and any man would want her for his wife. He even wanted her as well, not to mention Joey did. He could tell by the way Joey was looking at her.
"Geller, Monica Geller. And the form on the floor is my brother, Ross." Monica then sighed and put what was left of the vase down and started to pick her brother up. But Chandler and Joey started to help him up or to pick him up. Or actually Joey was the one who was picking the guy up. "You don't have to. I can do it myself."
"No problem, Miss Geller." Chandler replied as he scooped chips into his hat, he would exchange them later on in the morning for his money.
Not too bad, he made close to $400 that night. With all of his earnings over the past two nights, which were about up to $800, he might be able to landing a big card game in a big city and maybe, then just maybe he would be able to win enough to lay the ground work to start his dream ranch.
"Uh, thanks." She then led the way to her brother's room. After they put Ross in bed they left. Joey went to find a darling of the night. Monica turned toward Chandler again. "You are a kind man and I thank you for not taking advantage of my brother when you had the chance."
Chandler gave her a smile. "Listen Miss Geller, you should stop your brother from drinking so much. Or he is asking for trouble with not only loosing his money but his life. And you are also asking for trouble as well."
"Me? But I did not do anything."
"You are a beautiful young woman and if you are not careful you may loose your freedom, any man would want you. I don't mean to sound crude, but women out here are a scarcity. And a lot of men would take you as their wife without your consent. Understand?"
"Oh, I see." Monica whispered.
"Especially since you are beautiful, young, strong and smart. Which is a great combination for any person to have."
"Well, thank you." Monica then smiled at him. "Good night and thanks for the warnings." She then entered her room which was right next to her brothers and down the hall from his.
*****************
Chandler went down to the saloon's dining room to get himself something to eat. And to think about what happened.
Once he arrived in the saloon, he ordered a steak, well done, a baked potato with some butter and some bread. Not to mention some beer.
As he was waiting for his order to arrive, he reflected on the woman he just met. She was smart, beautiful, resourceful, and one that he would not mind having as his wife. He shook his head. Until he had a ranch started, he should not be thinking these thoughts. He needed to get back to thinking about something else.
Namely how he ended out here. During the war, he volunteered for the Union army against his father's wishes. His father wanted to hire a replacement for him, but Chandler enlisted anyway. Only to be told by his father that he was disowned. Not much caring for the easy life, Chandler just shrugged and left going straight to enlist right off in the forth year of the war or 1864, he had just turned 18 at the time.
So while serving in the army, he met his friend Joey. They were both in the same outfit. Or the 97th out of New York. They both saw plenty of fighting to last the both of them a lifetime. They both saved each other's lives countless times. And they both became the brothers that neither had.
So, it was only natural for the both of them to head west to seek their fortune and to team up in whatever they would do. They both worked as cattle hands, stable hands, helped to build the railroad, surveyors, clerks, lumberjacks, miners and Chandler even worked as a writer for a while.
Out west, Chandler found out that he had a knack at playing cards, so he became a gambler. And yet, he still kept his dream to own and run a cattle ranch. And Joey learned how to become a very good cattle hand. While Chandler was good at it, Joey was better, so it would be Joey who would be the head of the cattle, while Chandler would see to the finances and other such.
***********
The next night, another gambler was in town. And him and the banker, and Ross and another man started to play against him. By the end of the night, or just at the crack of dawn, Chandler had amassed a fortune. Or it was now in the pot. The hand he now had would determine if he was going to be a gambler for much longer or if he was going to buy some supplies for a trip up north.
He had four queens. There were four hands that were better than that. He wondered if one of the other two had one of the hands. Ross Geller, he had no idea about. The other gambler, it could very well be.
Finally, they all made their last calls.
Gambler: "$1500." He then through his chips in.
"Call." Chandler through his chips into the pot.
Ross sat there. He had two kings and two aces and one eight. He also had only $300. "Uh."
"Listen sonny, either call or you are out." The older gambler called out.
"Uh, I have the money." Ross defended himself.
"Well then call!"
"It is in a bank in San Francisco." Ross explained.
"Then you are out."
"If I lose the card game, I will go to San Francisco and get the money."
"You will run." The gambler stated drinking down his whiskey.
"I will not. My sister will stay here as my promise to you."
"What?" Chandler was shocked. Joey, who was behind Chandler at the bar, was also stunned.
"You mean you will leave your sister as a type of marker? If you do not comeback, then she belongs to me!" The gambler was happy. That much was evident. "You mean that pretty little filly with black hair and blue eyes?" Monica was down there earlier and the man had seen her. She had retired for the evening sometime ago. But, Chandler could not help but notice how that man eyed Monica. Ross did not seem to care. All he cared about was winning his money back that he lost last night
"Listen, me and my friend just fought in a war to stop slavery, and you want to offer your sister up as a slave?" Chandler asked.
"She is my sister, of course I do not. That is why I will not run." Ross reasoned aloud.
"Deal!" The gambler shouted. Evidently he wanted her in a very satisfying way.
"Fine." Chandler grumbled. "But I don't like it."
"I do." The old man was grinning like a fool.
"I had no idea." Chandler mumbled.
"One little stipulation, she does not leave her room and you do not enter it at all. She is only a marker." Ross stated.
"Fine. But if you do not show up with the money, then she is mine." The old gambler then grinned at the thought. "Now, let's see the cards."
What happened next was almost too surreal to be real. Since there were only three of them left playing, Ross laid his down first, then Chandler and then the gambler who had a straight flush.
When he started to reach for the chips, a card fell out of his jacket. And a fight erupted. The sheriff was called and so was a judge to determine the outcome. The sheriff took the man away to jail, and the judge decreed that the money go to the next highest winner of the game. Thus being Chandler.
Ross looked stupefied while Chandler was almost too astonished to say anything.
"Now, young man, you get on the next coach out and get that $1200 back here, understand?" The judge asked Ross. Ross merrily shook his head yes. The judge did not think too highly of what Ross did either.
"It will take awhile. I do not have the money for a ticket." Ross stated aloud.
"I will buy you one. And you WILL pay me back. Understand?" Chandler explained.
"Yes, I understand."
Later that morning, Ross emerged out of Monica's room with a red mark on his face. Not to mention he looked very flustered after Monica yelling at him at the top of her lungs. The whole saloon could hear it. He had just told Monica what he had done.
Seeing that Chandler could not help but commit, "Took it that well, huh? Of course if I were in her shoes, I would have shot you."
"And he would not have been back here with the money. I have to think of the future, namely mine." Monica stated from behind Ross.
"Don't worry Miss Geller, I will not take advantage of you." Chandler promised.
"Probably not. But, I still do not trust you."
"Understandable." Chandler committed. "But, I don't trust you either."
After Ross had left, Chandler told Joey to follow him and to keep an eye on him. It was done for two reasons, one he did not trust Ross and two, he wanted him to get his money to him safe and sound.
***********
One week later
San Francisco
Bank
Ross emerges out from it and starts to walk toward the post office. On his way, he sees a sign that talks about the Gold Strike up in Alaska. Instead of buying a ticket to Colorado, he buys a steamboat ticket to Alaska. He then quickly writes a letter to Monica. Sends it and then quickly boards the boat that is headed up the coast. Not noticing that he is being watched by Joey.
**********
One week later, Joey walks into the saloon and sits next to Chandler. "I take it he ran." Chandler says evenly as he lifted his glass and drained it.
"Alaska. He sent her a letter before he left. Some brother, I would die for any of my sisters." Joey then sighs. "What are you going to do?"
"I am going to make her our cook and housekeeper."
"What?"
"We are still going to start that ranch. And we will be too busy to cook and to do trivial household chores."
"Good idea. When are you going to tell her?"
"The letter will tell her he is not coming back. I will tell her what she is going to do to make up for the money. That is if she has no other way to pay me back"
"Unfortunately I do not. Dad gave as much money to Ross that he could afford to come out west. And has squandered it by gambling, drinking and women. So I do not have any ways to get you the money. And the way for me to pay you back is…?" A pale faced Monica asked behind them. She apparently had gotten the letter.
"You will wire your family, explaining that you need the money. They would surely help you out." Chandler decided. Three days later, they got a telegram back saying that there was no way that they could send the money.
"You will accompany me and Joey to Montana and will be our cook and housekeeper for five years. Nothing more." Chandler, who apparently made a decision after getting the telegram back, then looked over at her. "You will cook and clean and do laundry and other household related jobs. Understand?"
Monica gulped. "Perfectly." At least that was all that he was requiring of her. She knew that she had gotten off very easy compared to how some would have gotten off.
**********
Chandler had won a little over ten thousand dollars. They spent about four thousand of it and went and bought one large farm wagon. And other supplies. Enough to see them through an entire year. As well as other tools and needed items. And some animals. Like six laying hens, fifteen oxen to pull the wagon, three dairy cows, a female pig and four horses. With enough feed and other equipment they would need to see them through a year and three rifles a shotgun and ammunition, gun sheaths and five pistols. And Joey's cow dogs, Stevie, which was five years old and Rosita, which was a year old.
They then left Denver, Colorado and started the trek up to the Montana Territory. The journey was not easy. And it took them almost a month. They followed a wagon train that was going up to the Territory up north.
Monica rode in the wagon with Chandler. Joey rode one of the horses and herded the animals along as well as Rosita and Stevie helping him. Once in a while Chandler and Joey would trade spaces. And at times, Monica would walk beside the wagon to get exercise. During the ride, Joey or Chandler would teach her how to ride and to drive the wagon.
During the journey, Monica cooked the dinner and washed the clothes. While Chandler and Joey looked after the stock and the wagons. At night, when they were all done with the chores, Monica would start sewing or would read while Joey and Chandler would play their instruments or would whittle on a stick. Or they would all play a game of cards or checkers.
One night, Joey was bored. Monica and Chandler were both reading. Chandler a newspaper that he purchased from a town and Monica was busy writing letters to her father and one to Rachel, back in New York. Joey kept interrupting them while pacing back and forth and sighing.
Finally, Monica had enough. "Joey if you are that bored, why don't you read? I have plenty of books to choose from."
"I was never taught." Joey mumbled.
"I can teach you. If you want." Monica smiled, glad to have something to do.
"I have tried before, it is just that I can not learn!" Joey slumped down. "You must think I am really dumb, huh?"
"I don't think that. You are much smarter than me in a lot of things."
"Really?"
"You can ride horses better than me and you know how to drive a wagon better than me."
"But not reading."
"Well, let me at least try and teach you to write your name and to do simple arithmetic." Monica offered Joey.
"Arithme…what?" Joey asked.
"Math, Joey." Chandler confirmed. Still not looking up from his paper.
"Yes, when we get up to the territory, you can write your name on important documents like deeds instead of an 'X'. What do you think?" Monica asked, hoping that Joey would agree.
Joey smiled and then relented. "Ok. That is fine by me."
"Great, how about we start now?" Monica then got up to get a slate and chalk from the wagon. Once she came back Joey was gone. "Where did he go?"
"He remembered that he had another pressing job to do."
"But he said he wanted to learn."
"Monica, you would get better results hitting your head on a tree than trying to teach Joey book learning." Chandler calmly told her.
Monica gave him a look. "If his friend would offer more support, then he would probably be able to learn better and not to be afraid."
"I tried to teach him how to read one winter. He told me to forget it." Chandler explained. "But if you think you can, then I will be supportive in any way I can."
During the trail ride, Monica and Chandler both discussed different ways of teaching Joey how to do simple math. They would work on his name latter.
Finally, they discussed with Joey the cattle ranch and how many cattle he thought they were going to have and discussed in terms of the herds and how big they were. They went on to discuss how many acres are in a mile which happened to be 640. And how many cattle they could have grazing on them without fear of over grazing. Finally, Joey started to catch on how to do complex math and then soon after he saw what Chandler and Monica were doing.
After seeing how easy it was for them to teach him how to add, he then tackled spelling and how to write his name. It took them a while, but by the time they reached Helena, Joey was reading simple words and could write his name. So he could now write his name when it came time to write out a deed at the land office.
Once they found the land that Chandler inherited, they found out it was 300 miles of good land, good enough to raise a good sized herd of cattle on. It had plains on it, hills, woods, a river, a creek, and a pond. In short it was the ideal land for a ranch.
After arriving, Joey found out that their neighbors ran into some hardships. In short the father had died leaving a young mother and a ten year old boy. She wanted to go back east to live with her parents and to get her soon a good education. So Chandler made a very good offer for the land. So that the woman would have enough for her and her son's needs. The lands had on it hills, mountains, plains, small creeks or tributaries to the river and a forest.
And soon after arriving, they found out that there was a dirt floor cabin and a barn with a well that was already dug on the edge of the property not too far from a small town. No more than a one and a half hours ride.
The town, if you could even call it that, was just starting. It had a saloon that served as a tavern that served food, a stage for entertainment, and hotel and at the front desk was where the mail was dropped off at. It was owned and ran by a young woman by the name of Phoebe Buffay.
But everyone could tell that there was going to be a town there sometime in the future. The saloon sat on a crossroads where one could have a ranch on the plain area or do some mining or trapping further back in the hills or mountains or maybe even some lumberjacking in the woody areas.
They divided the land as of some mountainous on Joey's land, some wood land on his as well and Chandler had his a bit woody and a river and a pond and then after the river the plains were started so that there were plenty of good grazing lands for the cattle they hoped to have. The cabin and barn and other buildings were almost on an intersection of where there lands met.
Once they arrived at the cabin, they were astonished they had bought the cabin sight unseen because winter was fast approaching. They knew that they had some work to be done on it, but not as much as what met their eyes. The cabin was almost falling apart, the well was dry but at least the barn or shack was in good shape.
So they inspected the cabin. The door was almost off the hinges, which was the first thing they fixed. There were spider webs all around. Dust bunnies were all over the place. The furniture was broken. There was nothing to cover the windows. Part of the back wall was out. And the chimney had fallen apart. And part of the roof had halfway fallen in. They started to fix all of that, by putting on a new roof, shutters to cover the windows and a tarp to cover the back wall until they could fix it.
One look at the cabin, Monica balked. "NO, I will NOT live in THAT! It is falling apart. So forget it!"
"Monica between Joey and me, we will get this cabin built back into shape before the week is over."
"I am not living in it until then."
"We could sleep in a tent." Joey offered. "Or you could continue to sleep in the wagon. You have slept in there all this time. So why not a week more?"
"He is right, by this time next week, the cabin should be done."
"I guess I have no choice." Monica relented.
It took Joey and Chandler five days to repair the cabin. And Monica had to get the cabin clean. And tidy it up and put everything where they all belonged.
As soon as they finished with the chimney which was the last part, they started to work on the shack or the barn. They re dug a well close to the house. They fixed it which took another three days and they started to build a barn. With enough stalls for all of the animals and a place for the chickens and even a bed for the dogs.
Chandler and Joey even built an extra add on or lean to that was right by the house and where the back wall was at after they finished with the barn. It stood about four feet tall and could be stocked with wood and opened to the outside and to the cabin. They could put their wood in that to keep it from being wet and have it where it was more handy. Chandler and Joey then filled it up. They were able to get it done right before winter hit.
They had to go to the forest and cut down trees and then cut the trees into logs that would be easy to get to the house. They then took them by wagon to the house with the oxen pulling them since they were so heavy. After arriving at the house, they made a huge pile of the wood. Before doing that, they filled up the attached lean to by the house.
They continued making trips with the wood until they had gotten enough to see them through the winter. Which was a weeks worth. They kept it up until the snows came for the first time that year.
While the guys were improving the property, Monica was fighting a battle with the house. Cleaning it, while cooking, collecting the eggs from the hens they brought with them and doing the milking from the three dairy cows. Joey had to show her how to do the milking and it was by trial and error that she learned to cook. Much to the guys chagrin.
It took her a while, but she learned how to cook very well. She got lessons and tips from the other women on the wagon train. So by the time they arrived up north, she had both Joey and Chandler spoiled with how good her cooking was.
She cleaned the cabin by having to go to the river and bring back some water, chase away the spiders and get rid of their webs, sweep the dirt floor, clean out the fireplace. In it she found a mother cat who had three babies. Two of them were dead and one was still clinging to life. She heated some milk and fed it to both the mother and the baby. The kitten made it the mother did not. So they kept the kitten to become a housecat to keep down the rats and mice. According to Chandler and Joey a pet according to Monica. Which she named it Chi-Chi.
And then there was the laundry, which she did once a week, she had to tote a huge bucket of water from the stream to the house put it on to warm, put it back down again from the stove, put the clothes in it and then a washboard. Grab the soap with one hand and a pair of clothes with the other and start to clean them on the washboard. After she was done, she hung them out to dry. Which took about all day. Took them down and mended them and ironed them and then put them away.
At first she was not that good at it, the clothes were never washed right and she hung them up wrong, so they did not look right when she took them down. Joey did not mind, it was Chandler that had to take her aside and show her how to wash clothes.
Plus, one day Rosita decided to have some fun at her expense, as she was taking a whole basket full of clothes in the house, he grabbed her skirt and pulled on it, knocking her down into the wash bucket. She was slightly bruised and humiliated. And screaming bloody murder at the dog who grabbed Joey's favorite shirt and made a beeline toward the barn.
Once hearing Monica scream out, the guys came running. What they saw made them laugh. As they were laughing, Monica got up fuming. "Fine, then you both can do your OWN laundry from now on! And Joey, good luck in getting your favorite shirt back from your flea bitten mongrel of yours!"
"Hey, she is not a flea…" Just then it dawned on Joey. "My favorite shirt? Which way did that sneaking, thieving polecat go?"
"The barn." Monica stated as Chandler helped her up and started to pick up the clothes.
"The barn?" Joey asked.
"Yes Joey, you know, his favorite spot where he lays at which is in the mud by the pig trough." Chandler almost laughed.
"Oh crap." Joey then took off after his dog.
"I am sorry about this, Monica. Why don't you go and get cleaned up and lay down for a while and I will take care of everything else." Chandler asked.
"The last time we had your cooking, Joey made me promise not to let you cook again."
"He is just spoiled because of your terrific cooking."
"Thanks, Chandler. But if you really want to help. Then you do the laundry." As Monica started to walk toward the house a loud noise was heard from the barn.
"GIVE ME BACK MY SHIRT, NOW! I FEED YOU SO YOU BETTER BE NICE!" Joey screamed. And then a PLOP was heard and then the dog ran out followed by Joey who was covered in mud. Causing Monica and Chandler to laugh.
"Joey, if you want to eat tonight, then you had better get a bath." Monica called out. Joey then mumbled something inaudible and quickly ran after his dog.
There was one small twin bed. So the guys gave that to Monica after they repaired it. And they took the floor with their bedrolls and pillows. After all, they were used to sleeping on the ground. The rest of the furniture of the cabin was a rough table, two benches, three chests and a table to put the dishes on. Monica did the cooking on top of the fireplace.
The morning began like this for them. Which would begin before the sun was even up.
Joey and Chandler would see to the livestock. Which meant feeding them and watering them before breakfast and exercising them afterwards. The guys would then start preparing for winter, by cutting more wood and bringing it to the house, securing the grain and hay for the animals and them going hunting so they could have plenty of meat. They already had enough of other supplies. But they wanted to make sure they had enough of the rest.
Monica would do the milking and collect the eggs. While the guys were out, she would start breakfast. After breakfast, she would then use the extra milk to make butter in the churn or to make cheese and then start on other household chores like the laundry or the cleaning.
One cold morning, Monica woke up, got dressed and got on her coat and opened the door only to be greeted by a layer of white on the ground. It was beautiful. But it was ONLY mid October. It was clear that it was going to be a rough winter.
"Well, it snowed. It looks beautiful. Huh?" Chandler asked as he stood behind her.
"Yes, it does." Monica replied softly.
"You will get cabin fever before too long." Joey prophesied.
"Really?"
"Yup. You will get tired of it." Chandler then headed toward the barn, with Joey.
Joey turned around, stopping Monica. "Oh, Monica. I will do the milking from here on out. You are learning fast. But you take way too long. Besides, you are not to get out. Chandler and I will look after the livestock and that includes getting the milk and eggs in and getting the water."
Chandler then went and got the water and took it back to the house, while Joey went to collect the eggs then took them in since Chandler was clumsy and would probably drop them, and they both did the milking then took the buckets to the house. By the time they arrived back from their chores, breakfast was ready for them.
Which was eggs, bacon, bread, cheese, butter, coffee and fresh milk to drink. Monica had learned by then how to prepare the food and both Chandler and Joey were finding her to be a good cook.
By next month, the snow continued to fall harder and harder. Till it was finally up past the windowsill. Joey and Chandler had to take shovels and make pathways to the barn, the well and the outhouse. As well as to shovel the snow off the roofs to keep them from caving in. As well as to the wood pile that they had brought up. They had to bring up some more.
In the cabin, they all talked and got to know each other well. And started to become good friends. During the evenings, Monica would sew as she listened to Joey and Chandler talk about some times they had together. Or Chandler and Joey would play the guitar and harmonica. And on other occasions she would tell them what life had been like for her growing up. A few times she even gave Joey some more lessons in learning.
One night, Chandler learned from Monica that her family was well off. In short her mom HAD to have a maid and a cook. And since her mom wanted that, her father could not afford to help her out.
"You mean to tell me that your family has enough to hire a cook and a maid…"
"Three… One for the main floor one for the upstairs and my mom's personal maid." Monica confided.
"Three? And they don't have enough money to help you out?"
"What mom wants, she gets. Whether it be maids, costly dresses or huge parties. She has to keep up her place in society/" That statement shocked Chandler.
"But, they gave money to your brother…"
"My brother is looked at as the savior of the family. All the family's hopes rest on him." Monica broke a stick and sighed sadly while looking down at the table. "They would do anything that he asked. The reason why we were out here in the west to begin with was that he lost his wife and son in a house fire, so he wanted to get away from New York and the memories."
"But what about you?"
"I am a big disappointment to my mother. And dad is too busy to notice me. I came to get away from my mother, she really hates me by how she puts me down, constantly."
Chandler held her hand gently, "That makes me to think not too highly of your mother. Because, after getting to know you, I am honored to be your friend."
Monica looked at Chandler and smiled through her tears. "Thank you Chandler. And it goes the same for me. I feel very lucky to have you as a friend."
It was then that Joey walked in on the touching scene. He smiled at Chandler and Monica. He had hoped that his friend would eventually find a girl that he was comfortable around. He was never very comfortable around any of the girls.
It was only Monica that he seemed to be secure around and it was obvious to him that Chandler was taken by Monica. He had noticed it coming for a while now. Joey wished that for Chandler's sake Monica would feel the same way towards him. Hopefully, just maybe, they would eventually marry.
Now on with the fic…..I do not own the characters, BTW.
********
Saloon
Small western town
Colorado Territory, 1878
Chandler sat back in his chair and surveyed the other players at the card table. His best friend, Joey Tribbianni, was at the bar smooth talking a lovely lady. While Chandler stuttered around women and could not relate to them at all, Joey could. What he excelled at was cards, Joey's facial expressions could be read easily. The other players could also be read just as easily.
While waiting for a player to decide, he looked over at the mirror on the wall. His cards as well as the others could not be seen, but he could see his reflection very well. He needed to get a hair cut, his light brown hair fell a bit past his ears and in the back was touching his neck, his eyes were bright blue and above them on his temple he had a scar, courtesy of the Civil War.
Finally, it now was the time for everyone to show their cards…
Chandler laid his cards down on the table. "Full house gentlemen." He called out. Causing the other four men to groan and to swear while throwing their cards down to the table.
It was not a lot of money, it never really was, just enough to see him and his friend Joey through for a while, unless Joey did something real stupid where Chandler would have to pay a fine or to pay for his nightly entertainment with a girl. They were real good friends, but if Joey kept doing that, there was going to be no way that he would get his dream of owning a cattle ranch.
And it looked that the Colorado territory was about to become a state. Not to much longer, anyway. So there was no more land to really be had. Right after the Civil War, both ex-soldiers and newly freed slaves had picked up their lives and moved west. Some to get away from bad memories, some to get away from sharecropping and others because the west was the best place for a fresh new start.
Chandler recently found out that he inherited some land from an uncle that was the black sheep of the family up at the Montana Territory up north right at the Canadian border. The winters might be longer and harder, but there was more land to be had to start a ranch. And they just needed money to buy cattle, horses and other supplies.
"Well, I guess that is about it." A banker got up to leave.
"Yes, I am tapped out." An old forty-niner stated.
"I guess I will go and get something to eat, before you take ALL of my money." A young man smiled and left.
"Wait! I want a rematch." Came the one who was trying his best to get drunk.
He had lost the most money. He looked to be about the same age as Chandler, which was about 32, but he was taller, not as broad in the shoulders, had black hair and brown eyes. His clothes spoke of eastern finery and he had a tendency to speak like an aristocrat.
"Listen, the game has ended. So why don't you go and sleep off your drink?" Chandler asked, trying to be friendly.
"Because I want another game." He then stood up to full height. His hand right at the top of his gun. "Unless you are too chicken to play another game."
Chandler looked over his shoulder and saw Joey slowly drawing his gun, Joey would always try to be there for Chandler when he felt that he got into trouble. He hoped that Joey would not kill the man, he was evidently drunk and looking for a fight. If this man would draw, there was no way he would win.
Chandler fumbled with the cards he was reshuffling, trying to look like a bumbling idiot, and they went flying all over the place. "Uh, you could say that." Chandler shook his head yes.
"Are you always so yellow bellied?"
"It is how I stay alive, so YES!" Chandler smiled hoping that he would calm down. He did not want a repeat of what happened at Dodge City. At least everyone there agreed that he was only defending himself.
"What is wrong with you? I demean your honor and that is all you have to say?" The man slurred out.
"But what is it worth if you are dead?" Chandler asked. Still hoping that he will get fed up him and walk away and just in case, his hand went to his holster and unlocked it.
Just then a small vase was brought down on top of his head. Easily knocking the drunk man out cold and shattering the vase to pieces.
Chandler looked over at the person who swung the blow, only to see a petite young girl who looked to be about in her late teens to early twenties. "Thank you both for not killing my brother." She stated aloud to both Chandler and Joey who put away his revolver.
"Uh, no problem Miss uh…." Chandler tipped his hat. He looked carefully at the woman, she had dark brown hair and light blue eyes and clear, porcelain skin. In short she was very pretty and any man would want her for his wife. He even wanted her as well, not to mention Joey did. He could tell by the way Joey was looking at her.
"Geller, Monica Geller. And the form on the floor is my brother, Ross." Monica then sighed and put what was left of the vase down and started to pick her brother up. But Chandler and Joey started to help him up or to pick him up. Or actually Joey was the one who was picking the guy up. "You don't have to. I can do it myself."
"No problem, Miss Geller." Chandler replied as he scooped chips into his hat, he would exchange them later on in the morning for his money.
Not too bad, he made close to $400 that night. With all of his earnings over the past two nights, which were about up to $800, he might be able to landing a big card game in a big city and maybe, then just maybe he would be able to win enough to lay the ground work to start his dream ranch.
"Uh, thanks." She then led the way to her brother's room. After they put Ross in bed they left. Joey went to find a darling of the night. Monica turned toward Chandler again. "You are a kind man and I thank you for not taking advantage of my brother when you had the chance."
Chandler gave her a smile. "Listen Miss Geller, you should stop your brother from drinking so much. Or he is asking for trouble with not only loosing his money but his life. And you are also asking for trouble as well."
"Me? But I did not do anything."
"You are a beautiful young woman and if you are not careful you may loose your freedom, any man would want you. I don't mean to sound crude, but women out here are a scarcity. And a lot of men would take you as their wife without your consent. Understand?"
"Oh, I see." Monica whispered.
"Especially since you are beautiful, young, strong and smart. Which is a great combination for any person to have."
"Well, thank you." Monica then smiled at him. "Good night and thanks for the warnings." She then entered her room which was right next to her brothers and down the hall from his.
*****************
Chandler went down to the saloon's dining room to get himself something to eat. And to think about what happened.
Once he arrived in the saloon, he ordered a steak, well done, a baked potato with some butter and some bread. Not to mention some beer.
As he was waiting for his order to arrive, he reflected on the woman he just met. She was smart, beautiful, resourceful, and one that he would not mind having as his wife. He shook his head. Until he had a ranch started, he should not be thinking these thoughts. He needed to get back to thinking about something else.
Namely how he ended out here. During the war, he volunteered for the Union army against his father's wishes. His father wanted to hire a replacement for him, but Chandler enlisted anyway. Only to be told by his father that he was disowned. Not much caring for the easy life, Chandler just shrugged and left going straight to enlist right off in the forth year of the war or 1864, he had just turned 18 at the time.
So while serving in the army, he met his friend Joey. They were both in the same outfit. Or the 97th out of New York. They both saw plenty of fighting to last the both of them a lifetime. They both saved each other's lives countless times. And they both became the brothers that neither had.
So, it was only natural for the both of them to head west to seek their fortune and to team up in whatever they would do. They both worked as cattle hands, stable hands, helped to build the railroad, surveyors, clerks, lumberjacks, miners and Chandler even worked as a writer for a while.
Out west, Chandler found out that he had a knack at playing cards, so he became a gambler. And yet, he still kept his dream to own and run a cattle ranch. And Joey learned how to become a very good cattle hand. While Chandler was good at it, Joey was better, so it would be Joey who would be the head of the cattle, while Chandler would see to the finances and other such.
***********
The next night, another gambler was in town. And him and the banker, and Ross and another man started to play against him. By the end of the night, or just at the crack of dawn, Chandler had amassed a fortune. Or it was now in the pot. The hand he now had would determine if he was going to be a gambler for much longer or if he was going to buy some supplies for a trip up north.
He had four queens. There were four hands that were better than that. He wondered if one of the other two had one of the hands. Ross Geller, he had no idea about. The other gambler, it could very well be.
Finally, they all made their last calls.
Gambler: "$1500." He then through his chips in.
"Call." Chandler through his chips into the pot.
Ross sat there. He had two kings and two aces and one eight. He also had only $300. "Uh."
"Listen sonny, either call or you are out." The older gambler called out.
"Uh, I have the money." Ross defended himself.
"Well then call!"
"It is in a bank in San Francisco." Ross explained.
"Then you are out."
"If I lose the card game, I will go to San Francisco and get the money."
"You will run." The gambler stated drinking down his whiskey.
"I will not. My sister will stay here as my promise to you."
"What?" Chandler was shocked. Joey, who was behind Chandler at the bar, was also stunned.
"You mean you will leave your sister as a type of marker? If you do not comeback, then she belongs to me!" The gambler was happy. That much was evident. "You mean that pretty little filly with black hair and blue eyes?" Monica was down there earlier and the man had seen her. She had retired for the evening sometime ago. But, Chandler could not help but notice how that man eyed Monica. Ross did not seem to care. All he cared about was winning his money back that he lost last night
"Listen, me and my friend just fought in a war to stop slavery, and you want to offer your sister up as a slave?" Chandler asked.
"She is my sister, of course I do not. That is why I will not run." Ross reasoned aloud.
"Deal!" The gambler shouted. Evidently he wanted her in a very satisfying way.
"Fine." Chandler grumbled. "But I don't like it."
"I do." The old man was grinning like a fool.
"I had no idea." Chandler mumbled.
"One little stipulation, she does not leave her room and you do not enter it at all. She is only a marker." Ross stated.
"Fine. But if you do not show up with the money, then she is mine." The old gambler then grinned at the thought. "Now, let's see the cards."
What happened next was almost too surreal to be real. Since there were only three of them left playing, Ross laid his down first, then Chandler and then the gambler who had a straight flush.
When he started to reach for the chips, a card fell out of his jacket. And a fight erupted. The sheriff was called and so was a judge to determine the outcome. The sheriff took the man away to jail, and the judge decreed that the money go to the next highest winner of the game. Thus being Chandler.
Ross looked stupefied while Chandler was almost too astonished to say anything.
"Now, young man, you get on the next coach out and get that $1200 back here, understand?" The judge asked Ross. Ross merrily shook his head yes. The judge did not think too highly of what Ross did either.
"It will take awhile. I do not have the money for a ticket." Ross stated aloud.
"I will buy you one. And you WILL pay me back. Understand?" Chandler explained.
"Yes, I understand."
Later that morning, Ross emerged out of Monica's room with a red mark on his face. Not to mention he looked very flustered after Monica yelling at him at the top of her lungs. The whole saloon could hear it. He had just told Monica what he had done.
Seeing that Chandler could not help but commit, "Took it that well, huh? Of course if I were in her shoes, I would have shot you."
"And he would not have been back here with the money. I have to think of the future, namely mine." Monica stated from behind Ross.
"Don't worry Miss Geller, I will not take advantage of you." Chandler promised.
"Probably not. But, I still do not trust you."
"Understandable." Chandler committed. "But, I don't trust you either."
After Ross had left, Chandler told Joey to follow him and to keep an eye on him. It was done for two reasons, one he did not trust Ross and two, he wanted him to get his money to him safe and sound.
***********
One week later
San Francisco
Bank
Ross emerges out from it and starts to walk toward the post office. On his way, he sees a sign that talks about the Gold Strike up in Alaska. Instead of buying a ticket to Colorado, he buys a steamboat ticket to Alaska. He then quickly writes a letter to Monica. Sends it and then quickly boards the boat that is headed up the coast. Not noticing that he is being watched by Joey.
**********
One week later, Joey walks into the saloon and sits next to Chandler. "I take it he ran." Chandler says evenly as he lifted his glass and drained it.
"Alaska. He sent her a letter before he left. Some brother, I would die for any of my sisters." Joey then sighs. "What are you going to do?"
"I am going to make her our cook and housekeeper."
"What?"
"We are still going to start that ranch. And we will be too busy to cook and to do trivial household chores."
"Good idea. When are you going to tell her?"
"The letter will tell her he is not coming back. I will tell her what she is going to do to make up for the money. That is if she has no other way to pay me back"
"Unfortunately I do not. Dad gave as much money to Ross that he could afford to come out west. And has squandered it by gambling, drinking and women. So I do not have any ways to get you the money. And the way for me to pay you back is…?" A pale faced Monica asked behind them. She apparently had gotten the letter.
"You will wire your family, explaining that you need the money. They would surely help you out." Chandler decided. Three days later, they got a telegram back saying that there was no way that they could send the money.
"You will accompany me and Joey to Montana and will be our cook and housekeeper for five years. Nothing more." Chandler, who apparently made a decision after getting the telegram back, then looked over at her. "You will cook and clean and do laundry and other household related jobs. Understand?"
Monica gulped. "Perfectly." At least that was all that he was requiring of her. She knew that she had gotten off very easy compared to how some would have gotten off.
**********
Chandler had won a little over ten thousand dollars. They spent about four thousand of it and went and bought one large farm wagon. And other supplies. Enough to see them through an entire year. As well as other tools and needed items. And some animals. Like six laying hens, fifteen oxen to pull the wagon, three dairy cows, a female pig and four horses. With enough feed and other equipment they would need to see them through a year and three rifles a shotgun and ammunition, gun sheaths and five pistols. And Joey's cow dogs, Stevie, which was five years old and Rosita, which was a year old.
They then left Denver, Colorado and started the trek up to the Montana Territory. The journey was not easy. And it took them almost a month. They followed a wagon train that was going up to the Territory up north.
Monica rode in the wagon with Chandler. Joey rode one of the horses and herded the animals along as well as Rosita and Stevie helping him. Once in a while Chandler and Joey would trade spaces. And at times, Monica would walk beside the wagon to get exercise. During the ride, Joey or Chandler would teach her how to ride and to drive the wagon.
During the journey, Monica cooked the dinner and washed the clothes. While Chandler and Joey looked after the stock and the wagons. At night, when they were all done with the chores, Monica would start sewing or would read while Joey and Chandler would play their instruments or would whittle on a stick. Or they would all play a game of cards or checkers.
One night, Joey was bored. Monica and Chandler were both reading. Chandler a newspaper that he purchased from a town and Monica was busy writing letters to her father and one to Rachel, back in New York. Joey kept interrupting them while pacing back and forth and sighing.
Finally, Monica had enough. "Joey if you are that bored, why don't you read? I have plenty of books to choose from."
"I was never taught." Joey mumbled.
"I can teach you. If you want." Monica smiled, glad to have something to do.
"I have tried before, it is just that I can not learn!" Joey slumped down. "You must think I am really dumb, huh?"
"I don't think that. You are much smarter than me in a lot of things."
"Really?"
"You can ride horses better than me and you know how to drive a wagon better than me."
"But not reading."
"Well, let me at least try and teach you to write your name and to do simple arithmetic." Monica offered Joey.
"Arithme…what?" Joey asked.
"Math, Joey." Chandler confirmed. Still not looking up from his paper.
"Yes, when we get up to the territory, you can write your name on important documents like deeds instead of an 'X'. What do you think?" Monica asked, hoping that Joey would agree.
Joey smiled and then relented. "Ok. That is fine by me."
"Great, how about we start now?" Monica then got up to get a slate and chalk from the wagon. Once she came back Joey was gone. "Where did he go?"
"He remembered that he had another pressing job to do."
"But he said he wanted to learn."
"Monica, you would get better results hitting your head on a tree than trying to teach Joey book learning." Chandler calmly told her.
Monica gave him a look. "If his friend would offer more support, then he would probably be able to learn better and not to be afraid."
"I tried to teach him how to read one winter. He told me to forget it." Chandler explained. "But if you think you can, then I will be supportive in any way I can."
During the trail ride, Monica and Chandler both discussed different ways of teaching Joey how to do simple math. They would work on his name latter.
Finally, they discussed with Joey the cattle ranch and how many cattle he thought they were going to have and discussed in terms of the herds and how big they were. They went on to discuss how many acres are in a mile which happened to be 640. And how many cattle they could have grazing on them without fear of over grazing. Finally, Joey started to catch on how to do complex math and then soon after he saw what Chandler and Monica were doing.
After seeing how easy it was for them to teach him how to add, he then tackled spelling and how to write his name. It took them a while, but by the time they reached Helena, Joey was reading simple words and could write his name. So he could now write his name when it came time to write out a deed at the land office.
Once they found the land that Chandler inherited, they found out it was 300 miles of good land, good enough to raise a good sized herd of cattle on. It had plains on it, hills, woods, a river, a creek, and a pond. In short it was the ideal land for a ranch.
After arriving, Joey found out that their neighbors ran into some hardships. In short the father had died leaving a young mother and a ten year old boy. She wanted to go back east to live with her parents and to get her soon a good education. So Chandler made a very good offer for the land. So that the woman would have enough for her and her son's needs. The lands had on it hills, mountains, plains, small creeks or tributaries to the river and a forest.
And soon after arriving, they found out that there was a dirt floor cabin and a barn with a well that was already dug on the edge of the property not too far from a small town. No more than a one and a half hours ride.
The town, if you could even call it that, was just starting. It had a saloon that served as a tavern that served food, a stage for entertainment, and hotel and at the front desk was where the mail was dropped off at. It was owned and ran by a young woman by the name of Phoebe Buffay.
But everyone could tell that there was going to be a town there sometime in the future. The saloon sat on a crossroads where one could have a ranch on the plain area or do some mining or trapping further back in the hills or mountains or maybe even some lumberjacking in the woody areas.
They divided the land as of some mountainous on Joey's land, some wood land on his as well and Chandler had his a bit woody and a river and a pond and then after the river the plains were started so that there were plenty of good grazing lands for the cattle they hoped to have. The cabin and barn and other buildings were almost on an intersection of where there lands met.
Once they arrived at the cabin, they were astonished they had bought the cabin sight unseen because winter was fast approaching. They knew that they had some work to be done on it, but not as much as what met their eyes. The cabin was almost falling apart, the well was dry but at least the barn or shack was in good shape.
So they inspected the cabin. The door was almost off the hinges, which was the first thing they fixed. There were spider webs all around. Dust bunnies were all over the place. The furniture was broken. There was nothing to cover the windows. Part of the back wall was out. And the chimney had fallen apart. And part of the roof had halfway fallen in. They started to fix all of that, by putting on a new roof, shutters to cover the windows and a tarp to cover the back wall until they could fix it.
One look at the cabin, Monica balked. "NO, I will NOT live in THAT! It is falling apart. So forget it!"
"Monica between Joey and me, we will get this cabin built back into shape before the week is over."
"I am not living in it until then."
"We could sleep in a tent." Joey offered. "Or you could continue to sleep in the wagon. You have slept in there all this time. So why not a week more?"
"He is right, by this time next week, the cabin should be done."
"I guess I have no choice." Monica relented.
It took Joey and Chandler five days to repair the cabin. And Monica had to get the cabin clean. And tidy it up and put everything where they all belonged.
As soon as they finished with the chimney which was the last part, they started to work on the shack or the barn. They re dug a well close to the house. They fixed it which took another three days and they started to build a barn. With enough stalls for all of the animals and a place for the chickens and even a bed for the dogs.
Chandler and Joey even built an extra add on or lean to that was right by the house and where the back wall was at after they finished with the barn. It stood about four feet tall and could be stocked with wood and opened to the outside and to the cabin. They could put their wood in that to keep it from being wet and have it where it was more handy. Chandler and Joey then filled it up. They were able to get it done right before winter hit.
They had to go to the forest and cut down trees and then cut the trees into logs that would be easy to get to the house. They then took them by wagon to the house with the oxen pulling them since they were so heavy. After arriving at the house, they made a huge pile of the wood. Before doing that, they filled up the attached lean to by the house.
They continued making trips with the wood until they had gotten enough to see them through the winter. Which was a weeks worth. They kept it up until the snows came for the first time that year.
While the guys were improving the property, Monica was fighting a battle with the house. Cleaning it, while cooking, collecting the eggs from the hens they brought with them and doing the milking from the three dairy cows. Joey had to show her how to do the milking and it was by trial and error that she learned to cook. Much to the guys chagrin.
It took her a while, but she learned how to cook very well. She got lessons and tips from the other women on the wagon train. So by the time they arrived up north, she had both Joey and Chandler spoiled with how good her cooking was.
She cleaned the cabin by having to go to the river and bring back some water, chase away the spiders and get rid of their webs, sweep the dirt floor, clean out the fireplace. In it she found a mother cat who had three babies. Two of them were dead and one was still clinging to life. She heated some milk and fed it to both the mother and the baby. The kitten made it the mother did not. So they kept the kitten to become a housecat to keep down the rats and mice. According to Chandler and Joey a pet according to Monica. Which she named it Chi-Chi.
And then there was the laundry, which she did once a week, she had to tote a huge bucket of water from the stream to the house put it on to warm, put it back down again from the stove, put the clothes in it and then a washboard. Grab the soap with one hand and a pair of clothes with the other and start to clean them on the washboard. After she was done, she hung them out to dry. Which took about all day. Took them down and mended them and ironed them and then put them away.
At first she was not that good at it, the clothes were never washed right and she hung them up wrong, so they did not look right when she took them down. Joey did not mind, it was Chandler that had to take her aside and show her how to wash clothes.
Plus, one day Rosita decided to have some fun at her expense, as she was taking a whole basket full of clothes in the house, he grabbed her skirt and pulled on it, knocking her down into the wash bucket. She was slightly bruised and humiliated. And screaming bloody murder at the dog who grabbed Joey's favorite shirt and made a beeline toward the barn.
Once hearing Monica scream out, the guys came running. What they saw made them laugh. As they were laughing, Monica got up fuming. "Fine, then you both can do your OWN laundry from now on! And Joey, good luck in getting your favorite shirt back from your flea bitten mongrel of yours!"
"Hey, she is not a flea…" Just then it dawned on Joey. "My favorite shirt? Which way did that sneaking, thieving polecat go?"
"The barn." Monica stated as Chandler helped her up and started to pick up the clothes.
"The barn?" Joey asked.
"Yes Joey, you know, his favorite spot where he lays at which is in the mud by the pig trough." Chandler almost laughed.
"Oh crap." Joey then took off after his dog.
"I am sorry about this, Monica. Why don't you go and get cleaned up and lay down for a while and I will take care of everything else." Chandler asked.
"The last time we had your cooking, Joey made me promise not to let you cook again."
"He is just spoiled because of your terrific cooking."
"Thanks, Chandler. But if you really want to help. Then you do the laundry." As Monica started to walk toward the house a loud noise was heard from the barn.
"GIVE ME BACK MY SHIRT, NOW! I FEED YOU SO YOU BETTER BE NICE!" Joey screamed. And then a PLOP was heard and then the dog ran out followed by Joey who was covered in mud. Causing Monica and Chandler to laugh.
"Joey, if you want to eat tonight, then you had better get a bath." Monica called out. Joey then mumbled something inaudible and quickly ran after his dog.
There was one small twin bed. So the guys gave that to Monica after they repaired it. And they took the floor with their bedrolls and pillows. After all, they were used to sleeping on the ground. The rest of the furniture of the cabin was a rough table, two benches, three chests and a table to put the dishes on. Monica did the cooking on top of the fireplace.
The morning began like this for them. Which would begin before the sun was even up.
Joey and Chandler would see to the livestock. Which meant feeding them and watering them before breakfast and exercising them afterwards. The guys would then start preparing for winter, by cutting more wood and bringing it to the house, securing the grain and hay for the animals and them going hunting so they could have plenty of meat. They already had enough of other supplies. But they wanted to make sure they had enough of the rest.
Monica would do the milking and collect the eggs. While the guys were out, she would start breakfast. After breakfast, she would then use the extra milk to make butter in the churn or to make cheese and then start on other household chores like the laundry or the cleaning.
One cold morning, Monica woke up, got dressed and got on her coat and opened the door only to be greeted by a layer of white on the ground. It was beautiful. But it was ONLY mid October. It was clear that it was going to be a rough winter.
"Well, it snowed. It looks beautiful. Huh?" Chandler asked as he stood behind her.
"Yes, it does." Monica replied softly.
"You will get cabin fever before too long." Joey prophesied.
"Really?"
"Yup. You will get tired of it." Chandler then headed toward the barn, with Joey.
Joey turned around, stopping Monica. "Oh, Monica. I will do the milking from here on out. You are learning fast. But you take way too long. Besides, you are not to get out. Chandler and I will look after the livestock and that includes getting the milk and eggs in and getting the water."
Chandler then went and got the water and took it back to the house, while Joey went to collect the eggs then took them in since Chandler was clumsy and would probably drop them, and they both did the milking then took the buckets to the house. By the time they arrived back from their chores, breakfast was ready for them.
Which was eggs, bacon, bread, cheese, butter, coffee and fresh milk to drink. Monica had learned by then how to prepare the food and both Chandler and Joey were finding her to be a good cook.
By next month, the snow continued to fall harder and harder. Till it was finally up past the windowsill. Joey and Chandler had to take shovels and make pathways to the barn, the well and the outhouse. As well as to shovel the snow off the roofs to keep them from caving in. As well as to the wood pile that they had brought up. They had to bring up some more.
In the cabin, they all talked and got to know each other well. And started to become good friends. During the evenings, Monica would sew as she listened to Joey and Chandler talk about some times they had together. Or Chandler and Joey would play the guitar and harmonica. And on other occasions she would tell them what life had been like for her growing up. A few times she even gave Joey some more lessons in learning.
One night, Chandler learned from Monica that her family was well off. In short her mom HAD to have a maid and a cook. And since her mom wanted that, her father could not afford to help her out.
"You mean to tell me that your family has enough to hire a cook and a maid…"
"Three… One for the main floor one for the upstairs and my mom's personal maid." Monica confided.
"Three? And they don't have enough money to help you out?"
"What mom wants, she gets. Whether it be maids, costly dresses or huge parties. She has to keep up her place in society/" That statement shocked Chandler.
"But, they gave money to your brother…"
"My brother is looked at as the savior of the family. All the family's hopes rest on him." Monica broke a stick and sighed sadly while looking down at the table. "They would do anything that he asked. The reason why we were out here in the west to begin with was that he lost his wife and son in a house fire, so he wanted to get away from New York and the memories."
"But what about you?"
"I am a big disappointment to my mother. And dad is too busy to notice me. I came to get away from my mother, she really hates me by how she puts me down, constantly."
Chandler held her hand gently, "That makes me to think not too highly of your mother. Because, after getting to know you, I am honored to be your friend."
Monica looked at Chandler and smiled through her tears. "Thank you Chandler. And it goes the same for me. I feel very lucky to have you as a friend."
It was then that Joey walked in on the touching scene. He smiled at Chandler and Monica. He had hoped that his friend would eventually find a girl that he was comfortable around. He was never very comfortable around any of the girls.
It was only Monica that he seemed to be secure around and it was obvious to him that Chandler was taken by Monica. He had noticed it coming for a while now. Joey wished that for Chandler's sake Monica would feel the same way towards him. Hopefully, just maybe, they would eventually marry.